MR. DENISONasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether advantage will be taken of the opening up of a new thoroughfare through Hamilton Place to restore that portion of Hyde Park known as Hamilton Gardens to the unrestricted use of the public; if he will place upon the Table a nominal roll of all householders having a privileged right of entry to those gardens; and, if he will inform the House in whose hands the right of entry or exclusion is legally held to rest?
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, in reply, that he was not aware that the construction of a new road in Hamilton Place would render 1146 it necessary to make any change in the small gardens which were practically detached from Hyde Park, though legally forming part of it. The hon. Member was under some misapprehension in supposing that, in the proper sense of the term, there was a privileged right of entry. The practice was to allow the occupiers of houses in the immediate neighbourhood to resort to these gardens on payment of three guineas annually for their key, which was probably the full value of the enjoyment they received from this very small space. The money so received was sufficient to pay all the expenses of keeping the gardens in order; and the effect of the arrangement, therefore, was that this little detached spot was maintained without cost to the public. Under the circumstances, he thought there was no necessity for the Return requested by the hon. Member, or for any change in the existing arrangement.